My niece will soon be 2, any recommendations ? It’ll need to be mail order, as we live in different countries. Anything other than Islabikes worth considering ? Thnx

[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=16DAdTt8Lms[/video]

I got my lad a y bike http://www.ybikeworld.com/site/products/original

It’s just that tiny bit to big for him but he loves it non-the-less. I ride my bike round the garden and he copies me. Double wheel at the back so it’s pretty stable.

Awww, that’s cool. Thnx. I’ll need to speak my sister, ascertain suitability. Not having kids, it’s all very new to me.

Rose has a strider bike. It was fine from under 2. They are very light, which is a god send when you have to carry it, makes a massive difference compared to big heavy cheap ones. Hers has survived bmx tracks, peak district rocks and roots and mud in shining cliff just fine (a few scratches on the paint after crashes and tyre wear obviously!)

They also have a community of events around them, races, weekly bmx track sessions in a few places, which is nice – google for ‘strider cup UK’.

Can’t fault our Islabike Rothan.

As stated above, lightness is important as you will have to carry it and the child at some point.

Another Islabike vote here, really nicely done.

At that age you’d be after a balance bike.
I’d say Isla bikes are the ‘best’ (though never owned one, though have a cnoc 14).
We had a stryder, which suits v small kids. Then went on to an early rider, which is beautifully made,though doesn’t have a brake….

Specialised look very good too…

DrP

Mine have all started on a Spesh Hotwalk and progressed easily to pedals and no stabilisers.

As above would recomend a balance bike, we had one from decathlon

Where would she ride, inside or out?

At that age mine had a simple wooden trike for inside the house (and in the garden when dry), I wouldn’t bother spending on anything else.

Where would she ride, inside or out?

At that age mine had a simple wooden trike for inside the house (and in the garden when dry), I wouldn’t bother spending on anything else.

At 2, ours was heading down from our house to the park, riding home from child-minders, going to bmx tracks, going for 1.5 mile rides with her best friend to the woods, and even entered a ‘race’* just after her 2nd birthday. If she’d had a trike, she wouldn’t have been able to do all that stuff. If your kid didn’t have a bike, then of course they didn’t ride a bike, you could extend that logic to not buy them any bikes ever.

Joe

* it was a bit of an everyone gets medals complete carnage event in the 2 year old category – also, was the first event I’ve ever been to where the start was delayed as one of the competitors needed a nappy change!

Thnx a lot for all your replies. I gather a balance bike is best, can you later put cranks on any of them? Also, and finally (!), can anyone recommend an on-line retailer? Your help really appreciated.

Puky LRM. It’s light and cheap. Ours was £25 on eBay.

My little boy pottered off on it at as soon has his feet were flat on the floor (22mnths) and has been zooming everywhere ever since….

Strider.

Our lad doesnt get much time on the bike but hes bloody good (rode the harder part of the national bmx track at Manchester on only his second go, he did areally steep banking this week.

Naturally confidence-inspired.

Maybe a hint of sponsorship? But why is the strider bike sessions called strider and on striders?

Forget resale. They are kids not investments. 😉